The Olive Branch Police K-9 graduation held Thursday, Nov. 5, sent two new handler-and-dog teams into service, including one of the city’s own: Officer Jared Lancaster and his partner, K-9 Tony. The Olive Branch Police Department shared the news and photos from the ceremony on its official Facebook page Sunday morning.
The department said the graduating handlers and their dogs finished an intense training program that demanded discipline, teamwork and a steady commitment to excellence before they could hit the streets together.
Who Graduated From the Olive Branch Police K-9 Program
Two teams completed the course. One is a regional partner from across the state line in Tennessee:
Officer Jared Lancaster, Olive Branch Police Department, with K-9 Tony
Officer Shanna Beyer-Merrill, Germantown Police Department, with K-9 Gary
Germantown, a Shelby County suburb that borders DeSoto County, sent its handler to train with Olive Branch. The shared class is another example of the cooperation between police agencies on both sides of the Mississippi-Tennessee line.
Sergeant Michael Murphy Leads the Training
The department singled out Sgt. Michael Murphy, who leads and coordinates the Olive Branch K-9 training programs. In its post, OBPD said Murphy “continually goes above and beyond” in preparing handlers and their partners, and thanked him for the many hours he puts into building strong K-9 teams.
The fact that an outside agency like Germantown sent an officer through the Olive Branch course reflects the reputation of the department’s in-house program.
What the New Team Means for Olive Branch
Police K-9 teams are trained to support patrol officers in a range of situations. Handlers and their dogs work as a single unit, and the bond between them is built during weeks of training like the course the new teams just finished.
In its message to Lancaster and Tony, the department said the pair’s hard work and determination strengthen OBPD and help keep the city’s residents safe. “We wish you both continued success and many safe years of service,” the department wrote.
The post also tagged Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams, the City of Olive Branch and the Germantown Police Department in congratulating the graduates.
Community Connections
Olive Branch residents who want to learn more about how the K-9 unit works have had chances to see the dogs up close. The department regularly features its K-9 teams at community events and in its Citizens Police Academy, where participants hear from the K-9, drone, SWAT and firearms units.
Congratulations to Officer Lancaster and K-9 Tony, and to Officer Beyer-Merrill and K-9 Gary, as they start their new assignments.
